There exists a hill bordering on a mountain at the very edges of the Binah Sector. It is covered by a dense forest yet utterly devoid of life. They say the forest is a maze that turns all uninvited guests away, and at its center lies a gated estate with a grand Western mansion.
This mansion is where Klono lives.
Between climbing the hill and traversing the forest, an hour passes before I stand before a heavy iron gate draped in a sea of chains. This is where the members of [SIX EYES] acquire their chains. To replace the one I lost to BSA, I decide to claim another. Initially, I reach for a crimson one similar to my previous chain, but another catches my eye—a pattern of alternating crimson and gold. Something in me stirs, and I take it instead.
Wrapping the chain around myself and linking it through the bars, I scale the gate, make my way to the mansion, and ring the doorbell.
A short while later, I'm greeted by Kurono—Klono's alter.
Contrary to the belief that people wear their true faces at home, Kurono is an alternate personality that manifests only within the confines of Klono's living spaces—her mansion, my houseboat, or Ta.Na.Ka's shipping container.
She lets her hair run wild, ditches the coke-bottle glasses in favor of an extreme squint, and favors tight-fitting exercise wear, dedicating most of her time to fitness and personal health.
Currently, she's in a black sports bra and matching yoga pants with white stripes. She's drenched in sweat. The scent is nothing to comment on—I've long grown used to it. I wonder if she'll let me use some of her sweat to sample a scent for my [DOLLS]. Right now, [Hjálparhönd] smells like books, which suits her, but in the future, I'd like to give some [DOLLS] more natural scents.
All to serve her goal of becoming a [HERO] after high school—a goal her parents bankroll.
A [HERO] is a profession that blends elements of law enforcement with the charisma and theatrics of an actor.
Despite the title, [HEROES] possess no actual superpowers. Instead, they specialize in taking down high-profile criminals and terrorists—those officially designated as [VILLAINS]. The profession originated about half a century ago in America during a time of overwhelming public distrust in traditional law enforcement.
The purpose of [HEROES] is to bridge the gap between the people and the justice system, offering a more relatable and charismatic alternative to faceless institutions. Their rules of engagement are structured to minimize the potential for abuse, making them a more palatable symbol of justice.
Personally, I admire [HEROES]—there's something deeply cathartic about seeing a serial killer or terrorist brought to justice, not by an impersonal system, but by a larger-than-life embodiment of the indomitable human spirit.
And apparently Klono and Kurono's parents are of the same opinion. Though they were not able to become [HEROES] themselves they became committed to amassing the capital and resources needed so their descendants could follow that path should they so choose. In that sense, they're fulfilling their duty as parents and predecessors better than most.
As usual Kurono greets with a reminder of a great mistake.
"Yo, are you here to try to seduce the old hag again?"
A mistake—one that still lingers at the back of my mind.
I came on too strong with my interest during our first meeting.
The hag in question is Kōmō, a Japanese woman in her forties, once a [HERO] in America. I won't go as far as to call her an absolute bombshell, but there's something about her. Maybe it's the weight of the title she once carried, maybe it's just my own weakness for older women. Either way, I can't deny it—there's an appeal in the idea of getting to know her in ways that aren't exactly professional.
Klono's parents hired her as a mentor for Kurono and, to some extent, Klono herself. She teaches them how to fight, but more importantly, how to fight properly—not just to win, but to control a situation, to keep things from escalating. She arms them with the knowledge they'll need to get licensed as [HEROES], should they choose to walk that path. The butler thing?
The butler role is a hobby, a whim she entertains rather than a duty she upholds.
But despite that she didn't answer the door.
That leads me to believe she's probably in the workshop, indulging in her other pastime—tinkering. Too unprofessional to be called mechanical engineering but still impressive in its own right.
Similar to the people who run channels online trying to recreate bulletproof bodysuits, high-tech gadgets that have no place in reality, pieces of mechanical armor that belong in the pages of a comic book, She's the type to look at technology in fiction and ask, "Why not?"
Just another thing about her that makes it hard not to be interested.
Though I do wonder if she would be willing to gift me some failed prototypes to use as material for new [DOLLS]? Or better yet, maybe [Hjálparhönd] could tutor under her to learn some skills.
But unfortunately, that would require revealing that I'm a [WITCH] and showing my [WITCHCRAFT]. While Kurono's training and Kōmō's technology serve them well against criminals and terrorists, I wouldn't want them attracting the attention of beings that break the fundamental laws of reality. That thought will have to be put to rest.
"That's not what I'm here for actually. I'm actually here to tell you that I'll be going on a mountain retreat six days from now. I'm planning to finally go toe to toe with a Bear."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Kurono lets out a smug grin.
"Ho… and here I thought you wanted to be Mr. Nobody and live the rest of your days as the average man."
I can't help but feel a little embarrassed at how far I've come from the version of myself that sought normalcy.
"I guess you could say I've experienced my very own inciting incident."
"I see. So do you need anything? A ride? Camping supplies? Any pointers from someone with experience in the field?"
"No not really. However, I do need you to pass on what I told you to Ta.Na.Ka."
"Why are you not going to be able to see him before the trip?"
"Um… no. I'm giving you an excuse to visit his place alone."
"Oh… Did something good happen? I would never have expected you to wingman for me for free."
"Indeed something good did happen. But don't expect me to be like this all the time and don't squander this opportunity like you did the last."
Kurono blushes and hides her face with her hands.
"OH but I just can't help it. He's just so cute! I just wanna put him in a dress and have my way with him."
"Hey you're being disingenuous there. It's not like you want to put him in the amazon position, you want to peg him."
"And what's wrong with that?!"
"What's wrong is that you don't bother to hide it."
"I try my best!"
"Well you need to try harder. Don't you know that just like women have a sixth sense that can tell them when a guy just wants to sleep with them, Ta.Na.Ka has a sixth sense that tells him you just want to feminize him?"
"That's why I need your help."
"I've been wing manning for you since you first got attracted to him."
"No, no what I need your help with is different this time."
"How?"
"I need you to seduce him. That way he loses confidence in his heterosexuality and then I can swoop in and introduce him to an alternative that allows him to maintain a part of his pride as a straight man."
I instinctively step back.
This girl. This girl. This girl.
"Klono, you can't be saved."
"I don't need salvation.
She grabs my shoulders.
"I need booty. Man's butt."
I can feel my foundation shivering, but somehow, her enthusiasm wins me over. I sigh deeply.
"Fine, once I get back I'll seduce him. There's just one problem."
"What?"
"If he genuinely falls for me don't think I'll just hand him over to you."
The blood drains from Kurono's face.
A calm before the storm.
What follows is an illegible cry and my body being violently shaken by her arms.
"AAHHH!! No!!! Jolene, I'm begging you please don't take my man. Please don't take him just because you can."
"Okay, okay calm down. I'm neither the owner of Stone Free nor a Mate Poacher, so stop shaking me."
With that, our conversation reaches its close, and I make my way back down the dreaded hill. Two hours later, I return home to the sight of a very disappointed [Hjálparhönd].
And so, I spend the remaining six days repenting—dedicating every waking moment to teaching her how to draw and preparing her for our journey into the mountains.